My Mute Bride

Not long after Victor left, Rachel heard the doorbell ring.

Originally thinking he left something behind, she opened the door, only to see a courier.

“Ms. Rachel Hudson?”

Upon hearing that, Rachel nodded.

“There are two intracity express parcels for you. Please sign here.”

Startled, she signed for the parcels, thereafter receiving a cake and a paper bag.

Right now on the table, there was still half an uneaten cake that Victor had rushed out to buy at noon upon finding out it was her birthday.

So, who bought the cake that the courier delivered?

Setting it aside on the table for now, she pulled a rectangular suede box out of the paper bag.

With a click, she opened it and discovered a silver-colored necklace in the box that glimmered underneath the light

The pendant was in the simple design of a small sun with a hollow center.

Putting down the box, she found a card on top of the cake box that simply read ‘Happy Birthday’ without any signature.

Dumbfounded, she stared at the items until her phone started vibrating.

It was a text message from Julian reading, ‘Did you receive what I sent?’

Immediately, she understood. ‘I did. I was wondering who would remember my birthday.’

‘Don’t forget that you’re a patient of mine. It’s not strange that I would remember your birthday.’

‘Thank you.

‘You’re welcome. Are you free? I just finished work; come down for a walk with me!

Looking at the time, she agreed, ‘Okay.’

At this hour after dinner, the community was lively. All of the houses were lit up, and the sound of children laughing could be heard around the neighborhood as they ran around playing.

cake box down on a stone table and opened it. Before she could even offer some to anyone, a group of

cake is

motion with her hand, she lifted a knife and a paper plate, preparing

and pulled some candles out of a box to the side. “Today is Miss

that, the head of the group, which happened to be a little

must sing the ‘Happy Birthday’

close her eyes and make a

must blow

Rachel shook her head to indicate to Julian that there

the candles and had the children sing ‘Happy Birthday’ in unison. The delicate chorus of young voices would have

“Make a wish.”

There’s no need.

your birthday, Miss Rachel. My mommy says you have to say it in your heart and not out loud, or the wish won’t come true,” a very young voice piped

she found a little girl who wasn’t even at table height yet looking up

of the children, clasped her hands and made a wish. After that, she blew out the candles and began to

say thank you!” their parents instructed,

other’s faces. Just like that, the

the light of the streetlamp, Rachel finally smiled

apartment building, Julian continued, “The most important thing right now is to take care of your body and your mood. You don’t need to

so I might as well pretend it never existed for now. At that point, Rachel’s

and told her, “Go on upstairs, then. It’s been getting colder lately, so make sure

and

was inside her apartment and about

slam, the door was propped

her, his darkened face made all the more grotesque by the

out on

the house and shut the door before

“I see you’ve been getting

she took two steps back. Why are you

her as he pulled off his necktie and threw it onto the couch.

“I suppose you wouldn’t want me to ruin your blissful

by step he approached her, forcing

had no idea what

she staggered after him and was dragged